Jazz, as a musical style, got its start in New Orleans in the late 1800s—around the same time that a skilled tap shoe maker named William Henry LaRoy was crafting tap shoes for professional dancers in the city. Over time, a customer of his named Lyle “LeRoy” Dames—who ran a music store that provided jazz musicians with sheet music and other essentials—began recommending LaRoy’s tap shoes to jazz musicians who wanted footwear that was both durable and flexible. He liked to repair his own shoes, so he developed a shoe that combined the characteristics of a regular dress shoe with the flexibility and durability of a tap shoe. He added a leather toe, leather sole and canvas sides, and also a split sole for greater flexibility and rubber heel pads for cushioning.
As jazz grew in popularity, so did the demand for tap shoes specifically engineered for jazz dancing. In 1922, LaRoy developed a partnership with his grandson, Leon, and a new company—called LaRoy’s Shoe Repair—was born. The popularity of the jazz shoes and tap shoes that they made in their store quickly took off, and jazz shoes became a common part of a professional dancer’s wardrobe.
Soon, LaRoy’s Shoe Repair began producing jazz shoes for the top dancers of the day, and their shoes quickly became the industry standard. These shoes had flexible leather soles, split toes, and a strong heel that provided great support for dancers.
LaRoy’s shoes were so well-made that they quickly became the go-to brand for jazz dancers all over the world. In the 1940s and 1950s, the company expanded to include other types of dance shoes and began manufacturing tap shoes as well. Today, LaRoy’s Shoe Repair is still one of the most popular brands of dance shoes in the world, and their jazz shoes are still the preferred choice of dancers of all levels.
It is important to note that while William Henry LaRoy, known as "LeRoy," is credited with creating jazz shoes, he did not create them alone. Various tap shoe makers and performers contributed to the evolution of jazz shoes over time. However, LaRoy's craftsmanship, attention to detail, and collaborations with dancers played a significant role in popularizing jazz shoes and establishing their industry standard.